Journal-box



(Modelj' B. W. BALDWIN.

JOURNAL BOX.

Patented AugI 98 1888 Y Fay. 5.

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Brien.

BENJAMIN XV. BALDWIN, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

JOURNAL-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 283,950, dated August 28, 1883.

Application filed April 13, 19:3.

` To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, B'. W. BALDWIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of' Fennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Journal-Boxes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will ena-Y ble others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and te the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the construction of journal boxes or bea-rings for railroad-cars, locomotives, and for other purposes.

The object of my invention is to provide a safe and reliable journal box or bearing which will insure protection of life, limb, and prop.- erty where such are dependent upon the j ournal-boxes and journals being kept cool; and to this end my invention consists in forming the boxes or bearings hollow, or with a cavity therein for the reception ofthe lubricant, and providing` them with lling and vent orifices, which also serve to allow the oil, when expanded by the heating of the box or bearing, to flow over the ends of the boxes and onto the axle, as will more fully appear.

My invention consists, further, in eastin g the bearings or boxes with a cavity therein and therethrough in the direction of' their length, then closing the ends of the cavity by means of metal fillets and soldering` the same securely therein.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a top or plan view. Fig. 2 is an end view. Fig. 3 is a sectional. top view on the .line .r a' of' Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a sectional end view on the line 1/ 3/ of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of one of the fillets which are placed in the ends of the cavity to close the same.

A designates the upper or bearing box as ordinarily used in supporting the bodies of railway cars or locomotives uponthe journals or axles ofthe trucks. The box A is by preference cast in one piece, with a cavity, B, extending therethrough in the direction of the length of the box, the upper and lower shells being connected or strengthened at intervals (Medel.)

by means of the studs or stanchions a. I may, u however, without departing from the spirit of my invention, east the upper shell and the studs or stanchions a in one piece of an inferior or common metal, and for the lower shell or bearing-surface insert, in any well-known or convenient manner, Babbitt metal, or metal of a superior quality from that of the upper section or shell. I prefer, however, to cast the boxes or bearings in one piece, with the cavity B extending therethrough, and the strengthening studs or stanchions a connecting at various points the inner and outer or upper and lower shells.

C G are iillets or pieces of metal for closing the ends of the cavity B, and forming within the body of the bearing or box a liquidholding compartment. The fillets C are soldered, brazed, or otherwise secured in the cavity, so as to make a tight joint.

Z1 is a iilling-oriiice, through which oil or other` lubricant is poured into the4 cavity B, and c is a vent-hole, through which the air escapes when the oil is being poured into the iilling-orifice b, so that the cavity B can be readily and rapidly filled entirely full of' oil or other lubricating material.

b and c are grooves leading from the filling and vent holes b and c down to the ends ofthe boxes, which allows the oil to flow down onto the axle or spindle when the boxes have become heated to such an extent as to expand the oil, and in this way the bearing becomes lubricated at theproper time to prevent acci dent from the overheating of' the box.

The general contour of my journal-box does not differ in an essential manner from other boxes now in the market, and is provided with the necessary projecting fianges, by'which it is held in its proper position in the frame-work. The boxes may also be provided with an oilchannel leading direct to the spindle or axle, so that oil can be applied direct to the axle, as is now the custom, the main feature of my invention being the magazine or cavity in which the oil is stored, and which is brought into requisition by the heating of" the box and the expansion of the oil at the time the oil is most needed to lubricate the axle.

My invention is specially adapted for the journal-bearings or axles of cars, locomotives, and. rolling vehicles generally; but I do not IOO limit myself to such, as it is obvious that it can be adapted for use Wherever a journalbearing is liable to become heated.

I am aware that j ournal boxes provided with a cavity for the reception of a lubricant is not broadly new, such cavities being connected with the bearing or Wearing surface of the box by means of clannels or ducts.

I am also aware that j ournal-boxes have been made hollow for the holdin g of a cooling-liquid, and such I do not claim.

Havin g thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

l. The method herein described of lubrieating journals and axles, the same consisting in placing Within aA hollow journal-box the proper lubricant, which is forced out of apertures substantially such as described by the expansion of the lubricant, superinduced by heat from the axle or spinpdle, to'lubricate the same.

2. v A self-lubricating journal-box cast with a central longitudinal cavity7 B, extending.

through its entire length, in combination with the illets C C and strengtheningastuds a, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A journal-box having a central cavity, B., for the reception of the lubricating material, in combination With the filling and vent oriiice's b and. c, provided with the grooves or ducts leading therefrom to the ends of the j ournal-box, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature in presence of tWo witnesses.

BENJ. W. BALDWIN. l

Witnesses M. H. HoUsnMAN, O. D. THOMPSON. 

